Article testing and sorting apparatus



p 1951 s. v. SMITH 2,567,741

ARTICLE TESTING AND SORTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ha. I 2 85 ATTOR/V/FV S p 1951 s. v. SMITH 2,567,741

ARTICLE TESTING AND SORTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 7' TORNEV Sept. 11, 1951 Y s. v. SMITH 2,567,741

ARTICLE TESTING AND SORTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, l948 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTOR/VE) P 1, 1951 s. v. SMITH 2,567,741

ARTICLE TESTING AND SORTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1948 v Sheets-Sheet 4 I I l "In A TTOR/Vfy P 1951 s. v. SMITH 2,567,741

ARTICLE TESTING AND SORTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 //2 FIG. 46 L9 vaj /mg n3 8 z s 7 I HE I 6 g g II} 5 0 27 28 v 7 3% as M9 I 4/ H6 9 7 I Sept. 11, 1951 s. v. SMITH ARTICLE TESTING AND SORTING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 20, 1948 5 N m H M/ N n MM 0 V5 W v WM A E A. a H M 2 W I (0 4 2 mm a y 0 rfiv 3 Sept. 11, 1951 S. V. SMITH ARTICLE TESTING AND SORTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 A TTORNEV Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES: r

ARTICLE'VTESTING AND SQRTING .APBARATUS:

Scott. V. Smith,,Danville, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to W st ern Electric,Companmln New York Application August 20, 1948, Serial No. 45,385 6 eni m (01. 209-41) This invention relates to. a condenser. and ne work testing apparatus and more particularly to. a.rotary type machine for.. applying .aseries of electrical tests-to condenser .or networks con: tained in metal cans and....to.sort them.accord.... ingto their defects ornon-defects.

- It is an object of the present inventiontoprm vide an effective .andefiicient apparatusfor. sort-.1 ing .articles according to qualities thereof.

In one embodiment of theinvention, the test: 10 ing apparatus. comprises acontinuously. rotating turrfet .havinga plurality of holdersfor receivingj. articles to be...tested, a.radia11y movable ejector. associated. with .each holder and stressed to eject... the article. from thev holder, and contacts engage: 15 ahlewith the. terminals of, tl ielarticle and Sfi'. quentially .connected..-.through. commutator and... switch. meansto a. plurality .of test 1 circuits... adapted to apply various. tests to the article. The article is placed in aholder in an inoperativeposiv. tiomin -spaced..relation. to the contacts andinengagement with the. ejectorand at a predeter; mined point in the rotation ofthe table the article is pushed .by. a, rotating. pusher mechanism. into an;.operative positionin engagement. with the. contacts-, which. movementof. the article .also moves, theeiector. to a stressedoperative position. nd r cl is. held. in. his...p0 i0n. v y A sprineepr ssed latch. As. .the a ticle m ves. with he; r et. it is. sequ n ially. ect i a ly. 11-": ...'::0 ste t te ine i uits. andis subiectedtova u .e e tr-i 1 t st ndi ear iclais. are. r d. d s n eetat st m q et wt qet m n r iti ns alqnet a th. f ve ime. a t es. .aetiaaief helai h nd r ath .35 i i iw t e rt cle wh a. he r l a ee the test, solenoids under control of the tejst cir-s cuits areenergizedto. renderjthecams ineffective and. allowthe article to be earned by the'turrt tosthe. .following'te's'lt and finally -to an unloading .4 sta'tionll A' perfect or acceptable article passing through the various tests appliedlt'o the articles is ejected from th 'holder at an unloadingjstafj ti'o'n by a stationary. cam, whichv operates. to. release the latches from the articles and causej theejection of thearticlesont arotating table; which quickly mov s thearticles .out of the path of succeeding ejected articles;

in order to. accommodate, articles. .having varir. ous thicknessesand constructionsof terminals; the fixtures which include the contactv members and ejecting membersfarearranged in two levels nd. are a u b e qm ve e ther level'or co ta.-. fixtures in alignment withthe'article holder;

1 lec i a c rcu t w h q i tel he 1 holds may be of any suitable type capablepf sup? y n rrentto perateit e. l midsa ut. a

l as P nts Nos.2,50r,56 .aa 2,5 1. 6

, line 2 -2 of Fig. 1;

preferab y onthe yn e i t applicatio sof.S-.. ...F ;isbi

Nos. 46,792, 46,793,. .andg16 94 n1 A 1948, the latter. two .o-r. which ihav I h r bie-Qtsand. advanta esoi .t ein emiom ill b apparent. by. reference in the o lowin description and the accompanying drawings illusv..- trating a preferred embodiment her qf .i which Fig-1 is a plan vie.w.:,of the preferred for.m.0f.- apparatus. embodying. .the .inventionewitha .porn. tionof the housing thereof sho.wn.insection;..l

Fig. '2 is a vertical longitudinaLsectionaL View... through a portion .of. the apparatus. take'nomthe'z;

Fig. 3 --is' a View inperspective. of .an. article which may be tested in this apparatus showing 1 the article as having a pair of studs and one arrangement of terminals extending therefrom;

Fig. '4'i's a view in "perspective ofan'article '5 which may be tested inthis'apparatus and which' i has a differentarrangemnt of teimi ais'enen mg therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse cross sectionah view of th'apparatus taken -on the line 5' 5 for Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryplanview 0f' ,the article loading portion oftheapparat" and a portion of the pusher niechanis'mforjmov m the article o the'rotarytahle operative to'an'operative position thereon;

Fig. 7 is avertical secti view tak n of 6 S l win .,.myabl f nfll.

the solenoid'fior actuating'it Fig.6 and showing a 'arjti'c le pnt in position to be fmoyelc l lIltQ' a rotary table;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentaryyiew o fa portion or the app u hown" fia; 8 .fihow g" h' moved into noperaal pos't rotary table and in engagem electrical contact. sprin Fig.. 11 is. a' fragment the drive for the pus Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the unloading portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line |3| 3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detailed vertical longitudinal sectional view through the fixture showing the arrangement of the contact springs and the ejector members therein and an article in operative position relative to the lower contacts and ejector;

Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the fixture taken on the line l-|5 of Fig. 14;

Figs. 16 and 17 are plan sectional views through the fixture taken on the line |6-|6 and respectively, of Fig. 14 showing an article in operative position in each; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view through the ejector member.

This machine is designed to test condensers and/or networks by sequentially connecting them to electrical testing circuits for testing the various electrical characteristics thereof, such as breakdown, capacity defects, network resistance defects, andinsulation resistance, and to sort the condensers and/ or networks according to their defects or non-defects. These condensers or networks are enclosed in rectangular metal containers or cans 25 (Figs. 3 and 4), each of which is closed by a wall or closure 26 of insulating material apertured to accommodate the terminals 21 extending therethrough and connected to the condensers ornetworks and in some types of constructions to accommodate mounting studs 28. The metal containers 25 are of predetermined uniform length and width and their thickness varies according to the number of condensers and/or networks contained therein. The number of terminals 21 varies, ranging from 2 to 4, and the arrangement thereof, likewise, varies, depending upon the number of condensers or networks in the container. For purposes of convenience indescription, the condenser and network units and the container therefor will hereinafter be referred to as an article 29.

Generally, the apparatus comprises a continually rotating turret or table 35 (Figs. 1 and 2), having a plurality of article holders 36 for receiving the articles '29 and carrying them through a predetermined circular path of less than one complete revolution. Each of the articles is slid manually from a stationary loading table 38 into the holders 36 and into engagement with the end of a U-shaped ejecting plunger 39 stressed for movement outwardly by a spring 49 and guided for reciprocable movement in a vertically adjustable fixture 4|, which is rotatable with the turret 35. In this initial or inoperative position 43 of the article 29 in the holder 36 (Figs. 1, 6 and 9), the terminals 21 are spaced from contact springs 46 stressed for vertical movement toward each other and spread apart in response to the outward or ejecting movement of the plunger 39 by a spreader cam 4'1 mounted thereon. As the article is carried along by the turret, it is engaged by a pusher mechanism 48 (Figs. 1, 6 and and forced thereby radially inwardly to a second or operative position in the holder. In moving inwardly, the article imparts a movement radially inwardly to the plunger 39 to effect the closing movement of the contact sprin 46 into engagement with the terminals 2'! of the article. While the article is held in its forward or operative position by the pusher mechanism 48, a latch 59 associated with the holder 36 is actuated to engage the article and hold it in this position.

4 As the turret 35 is rotated, the contacts 46 and the articles 29 associated therewith are carried through a plurality of testing stations and are electrically connected to a plurality of testing circuits and the articles are subjected sequentially to various electrical tests.

An article 29, when it is defective and cannot pass a test applied to it, is ejected at the end of that test by a cam 52 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) which actuates the latch 50 to release the article and permit the ejecting member 39 to eject the article radially outwardly from the holder and into a receiving chute 54 (Figs. 1 and 5). If the article passes the test applied to it, a solenoid 56 (Fig. 7) associated with the operative testing circuit is energized to move the cam 52 and render it inoperative and the article will continue its movement with the rotary table so that if the article is perfect or acceptable, it will be carried to an unloading station 99, where a stationary cam 62 (Figs. 12 and 13) actuates the latch to release the article and permit the plunger 39 to eject the article from the holder on the rotary table. At the unloading station, the articles are ejected radially onto a rotating turn table 64, which serves to move the articles out of the path of successive articles and permits the operator to slide them onto a stationary unloading table 65, from which they are later removed.

More specifically, the rotary table or turret 35 comprises an annular disc or supporting ring 10 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8) positioned on top of a cylindrical drum portion 1| having an annular web or disc portion 12 provided at its inner periphery with a hub 13. The hub 13 is fixed to a sleeve 14 (Figs. 2 and 5) rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 15, the sleeve 14 having a shoulder l5 engageable with the shoulder 11 on the shaft for supporting the sleeve 14 thereon. The shaft 15, at its lower end, is secured in a supporting block 18 and, with the block 18, is fixed to a base plate or platform 19. The plate 19 is mounted on a plurality of longitudinal and transverse horizontal frame members 82, which, together with other horizontal and transverse frame members 83, are welded to a plurality of corner and intermediate vertical frame members 84, and constitute a skeleton framework of the machine. Metal sheets applied to the framework form walls 85. which enclose substantially the entire machine. The reduced upper end of the shaft 15 is supported against movement by one end of a stabilizer arm or bracket -86 extending transversely from the upper end of a stabilizer column or post 81, which, at its lower end, is rigidly secured to the base 19.

Rotation is imparted to the rotary table 35 by a pair of belts 90 (Figs. 1 and 2) encircling the drum II and connected to a drive pulley 9| operatively connected to a drive shaft 92 of a gear reducer 93. The gear reducer 93 is connected through a belt drive 94 to an electric motor 95, which, together with the reducer 93, is mounted on a bracket or platform 99 fixed to the post 81. The drive pulley 9| is slidably mounted on the shaft 92 and has a serrated clutch element |D| engageable with a complementary clutch element I02 secured to the drive shaft and is yieldingly held in operative engagement therewith by a spring I93. Thus, if an excessive load is applied to the drive pulley 9|, the drive pulley 9| may slow down or stop and be caused to move upwardly by the drive clutch element I02, which upward movement of the drive pulley 9| serves to actuate a microswitch I04 to stop the motor 95.

The-'articleeholders; A36 Fi -Sci. 2N, 6,':3,:-- 12';.@I.11; 133a on- =thetrotarywtahlee Harareormed :ab {a P 1121 rali-ty'zof elongated taperin ll q 316mb? IoIisecu-reatc the uppen surface of the sup o tingring e1o sandeprojectin sradiallytwa d r f o rs aresbent .:at-..= rightaangIesto pformtshoulders; or.

hoqksrel I 3, which ,are engageable with; ,theends. of+.the,.articles =29, to;ho1d them .in; their..- operative position. in the holders. The shafts ,l I2-are jour nailedatinapertures extending through, th e =p1a te;

lflz andgdrumi ,I I vandueach shaft has. fixed, to? its 255;

lowerend a cam-follower, comprising an,arm;II5; secnrednat. one end togthe shaftand at-its other}. end rotatably supporting a roller; I I6. ZCompression springs-II 8, mounted in recesses inthe blocks,

lflieiurgeithe latchesintoclosedposition in en we;

gagement; with the article.-

Thei-stationary cam; 62; which actuates;v the latches to their released. or, open. position. atthe articiegunloading, station 60., is ,formedon -an annular member or cam tringunflglfixed totheupper, 355i end;of a dished annular; supporting bracket I2I seeuredto the stationary shaft p The cam 62 ha's a surface-I22 concentric with the axis of the.

shaft 1'5,--; ancl..wh-ich extends circumferentially;

from the discharge. or unloading-stationtuto a point adjacent the pusher mechanism 48 and. serves .-.to;-m a intain: the latches 59 in; theiropen; p sition whil the holders 36 are in the loadin zone Eand the articles ,arebeing loadedqonto the rr te djacent t pusher mechanism 48, t e 45..

earn surface I22: ter riinates anda rolleryl23,;g mounted on a braeket;-.I)24 intthe path of, the cam follower. roller; I I 6, serves .to actuate ;the follower, as it passes by, and 1 move. the. ,1atch to;- its closed;

nos, 1on where itis effectiveto hold thearticle: 50.1;

in i forward Or-Operatiye position- The springs I I 82 a tjt .reta ct e. lat h s in. th i clcs d p sitmn m -1 e agement. w t h rtio1es .2 9 and. ll s 0f h ca fo w r e positi n d a v i cent.an b t ti yi ene em nttw a arcnatecam surface I25;concentric withthe axis; of theshaft which sur face I25 seryestodimit the. ward. mev n 0 fo r a d hero r movement of the latch 50 ,when an article zflfis ui u m ea 1 2a beaxin imemhenlfii heabe 6 ch$ 1 t me p sitieu-t zremii t eeiection' l lder 35 hen .t at treats, hec m and t ndersnt ecam in ieetiy ere nbeicr L.

The shers echanism flal l aeql 6,1 andt 11) for push n theartifice adiall inwa d xintee theirz p r t velposit qn i e a ement :.W th.- t ey 2; m er flfiand aea nett e e ciineeprcs=1? sure of the ejector;,--3 9;. comprise .a p urality pic spaced: .pusher .,elernents or. .rolle rsJ 29 rot-atably mounted about. their. axesecma 1 0 fixed ta; thea-uppeivend of. a shaft I3 I;; whi is ro tatably.

in -,I,32;;is formeddn a mounting ;plate-;1 I3'3.,; qwhic is :mounted: tor;. d eamev mentpo .a supp rtin plate I 34; secured to a pair-.c ispac d s pnertine brackets I35; extending trom;and \f;a stened toithestationary. s pp rt =12]. .Thep ate: 1 311 ded r l ed radial.- .m ement by :a air o sh. dered vstuds I31 p sitionedui radially. te d. uide s1ots;..l 38;..in: the s p rtin plate 34. A: sprock t vI 42..pinned. tothe shaft: I3 I; @is c nnected l. bya Sprocket chain5II43, to a sptDCliQF-IM, whie 5 intui'n, is keye ttoa shaft I4 .:rotatab y: mounted: ina bearin iormed on,t ei pnorti amlatei I34. A ,dise;,,I4'I., keyed to;,th e upper end' .of the.; Shafl l'?1|45',; has a pluralit gfcofdrequally spaced. radially disposed slots ,I 4 8;: which: are, engageable y. driyepins I49 extend n downward y nspaced; rel tion tozeach othe i omqthe unde n a h S I-:3: face. .of the "annularaplate 10 of the rotary; table; 35:. Thus, the pins;;I 4.9,. moving gwithgthe rotatable; table :35; ,engage in -the.;- slots.= I48. of the d sc. 1. 2 and; impart rotation;- thereto; 5.337 1101 1311 a urn: throughthechain drive, imparts rotation to, the; disc :I 3Ihand;v pusher rollers.- I;29 The pusher-:elements .or rollers -I 2 9, beingespaced.,equieangularly g about. and tequi distant from a the .axis. of the, ro tation of theadisc I 30,; .eneaeev succe ive r les-: andzmove. them zradially inwardlyv on the, turret;- from; their initial-or inoperativep n to t eir... inner, .or operative v position against, the, yielding;- pressure of. the .eiectingamemberetfl to eflect the; engagementoftheterminals 21;with. the, electrical;v contact members .46:

The discJ-I301of the pusherlmechanism .48is capable .of limited movement; outwardly to accom:.,; modate articles of excessiyedength ,or; other ,un usual conditions. -.without damaging the .pushin mechanism A8 ;.and=.the disc J 30- may: be. yieldin zj maintained in its normal, position by any suit: able mechanism. .AsshownL-herein (Figs..,10 and 1).; the chain I43 is engaged'by a chain tightener sproclget I 50 -rotatab1ymounte on, ;a lever-kl 5 I .intermediate its ends. At one-end, the lever I5I-is pivoted at I52 to the-fixed supporting plate; I34; and-1 atcits other. end ;the lever; I 5 I :is connected;

abfit t .fromt h der i e rotation-pf 60, 110 oneend'pfqa contractileepringlfl; the other iitlapl '3 i The, cam ring tm also serves 1 as a support. for;

the movable cams .52.;(Figs, 5, 6 and 7) ,andithe solenoid cam actuators, 56.: The movable cams BLa.

ylinclr ale n shape, are, .v r al yl m vable in 05-;

apertures iformed inthe-cam ring;...I2Ii and are= nqkmallymaintained in their uppenor operative; p siti n i t e-pa h Df.- Q m6. f t cam: 1. 1: lower- 'ollers l I6. lay springs, I21 and .are;with:;

draw do n rdl t e r i op a ive position.

ich. nd r d a l .-.0u wa yai omlt e; am;

sugiace l 25, ser-ye, i qo e at v -.-p sit .n,;;

ie tu ialt ey amzi lewer -.-I I6 .a dlnmoveathez; vertical g ooveficiend oflwhich; is adjustably secured-to a post ..I 54.1

onthesupporting; plate; I34; ;.Thus, this construe-.5

tionieyieldingly retainsrthe chain, I 43 taut; about the drive sprockets 1142 and; I 44... and yieldingly:;a. permits thev radial. movement outwardly got, the;- shaft-[3L If desirednthepusher mechanism 481-;-

may;'be substantiallyaenclosed in'a housing, 912*; cover plate I55.

The fixtures 4I- .(lFigs.a.6, 3. .9 andzlO) in .which theicontact .members lfiiandtheiej cation-members; 39::are mounteds andwhich .;comprise..elongated-;- tapering. units xnested together; in: annular forms. are secured;= to'l.an t: .annularVdisc or .supportinge; plate. I26 lizbyescrew I6I:;(Fig:;5);;=f1tting-;in:a1igne(1;; .l hea sidewdiuerging walls mi;

an internally threaded nut is associated and radially aligned with an article holder 36 and contains two sets of contact members 46 and ejector plungers 39 arranged at two levels, one set in superposed relation to the other. One set of contacts 46 and ejector 39 as, forexample, the upper one, is adapted to accommodate articles-having studs 28, as disclosed in Fig. 3, and the other or lower set of contacts and ejector is adapted to be used for testing articles having end constructions as disclosed in Fig. 4.

The supporting plate I60 and the fixtures M are vertically adjustable to horizontally align the upper or lower set of contacts and ejectors with the holders 36 and also to adjust the position of the contacts and the ejectors of each set vertically relative to the holders when used in testing articles of different thicknesses. A plurality of rods I63, fixed at one end to the plate I60, extend downwardly through apertures in the disc portion 12 of the rotatabl table 35 and are secured at their lower ends to an annular plate or ring I64. The plate E54 rests on an annular antifriction thrust member I55, sliclably mounted for vertical movement on the sleeve 14 and supported on a plurality of thrust pins I61. The pins I61 are secured to and extend upwardl from I68 mounted in threaded engagement with an externally threaded sleeve I10, which, in turn, is mounted for rotation on the stationary shaft 15 and against axial movement. Formed on the lower end of the threaded sleeve 110 is a worm gear I1 I which meshes with a worm I12 keyed to an operating shaft I13, which, in turn, extends forwardly from th machine through the front wall thereof and has an operating handle I15 at its forward end. By turning the handle I15 in the proper direction, the threaded sleeve I10 is rotated and the nut I68 is moved vertically, which movement is transmitted, through the non-rotatable pin I61, to the thrust bearing I66, and from the thrust bearing I66 to the rotatable plate I64 and pins I63 to the rotatable supporting plate I68 and the fixtures M to properly adjust either set of contacts 46 and ejectors 39 to the proper elevation relative to the articles 29 in the holders 36.

Each fixture II, with its upper and lower compartments for the reception in each of one set of contacts and ejector members, comprises a housing formed in three sections secured in superposed relation by screws I83 and having upper, intermediate and lower horizontal wall portions I84, I85 and I86, respectively, and side walls I88-I88. Guideways or slots I90 are formed in the side walls I88 for receiving and supporting ejecting plungers 39 for horizontal reciprocable movement and recesses I9l are provided in the fixture for receiving a plurality of blocks of insulation I93 forming a wall for supporting the contact members 46. The ejecting plunger 39 is U-shaped and, as previously described is normally urged radially outwardly by the compression spring 40 interposed between the ejector 39 and the'wall I93. The movement outwardly of the ejector .39 is limited by pins I96-I96 engageable with the ends of slots I91I91 formed in the walls I88 of the fixture.

In the lower set of ejectors (Fig 17), the seats 200 are formed on the outer ends of the leg portions I99 and have angularl disposed guide surfaces 20I extending outwardly therefrom and are adapted to be engaged by the end portion of the article, which is positioned laterally on the seats by the inclined portions 20I. In the upper set of ejectors 39 (Figs. 14 and 16), the

seats 200, formed by the notches in the leg por-. I99, are spaced from the ends of the tions plunger and are adapted to receive the studs 28 projecting from the article 29 of the type of construction shown in Fig. 3. The outer ends of the leg portions I99 are provided withinwardly directed inclined surfaces 202, which aid in guiding the studs 28 of the article into position on the seats 200.

To insure a positive contact between each of the studs 28 of the article and the plunger 39 in order to electrically ground each stud to the machine, one of the seats of the plunger is provided with a mechanism to compensate for a slight difference in length between the studs 28 of the article. The shoulder 203 Fi 18, formingone of the seats, is positioned a greater distance from the end of the ejector plunger '39 than the other seat and a movable abutment member, in the form of a ball 204, is mounted in a bore 205 in the leg I99 of the plunger and normally projects beyond the shoulder 203. The abutment member 204, which is retained in the bore 205 by the converging side walls at the end of the bore, is urged outwardly by a spring 206, which is held compressed by a plug 201 retained in the bore 205 by the pin I96. Thus, when an article having studs 28 of slightly different lengths is moved into engagement with the seats of the plunger 39, one stud 28 will abut the regular seat 200 and the other stud 28, whether the short or long one of the two, will be engaged by the self-adjusting abutment member 204 associated with the other seat.

The cam or contact spreader member 41 is fastened to the intermediate or connecting portion of the U-shaped ejector by a screw 209, the end of which projects beyond the ejector and serves as a guide pin for the compression spring 40. The contact members 46, four in number for each set, are in the form of elongated flat spring members having inwardly directed end portions 2I0 engageable with the terminals 21 of the ar ticle 29. Rigidly supported at one end in the block I93 and disposed above and below the ejector 39, the contact members 46 are flexed for movement toward each other transversely to the direction of movement of the ejector member 42 and the article 29. ends, the contact springs 46 are provided with inclined offset or cam portions 2 engageable with the inclined portions of the cam members- 41, and which portions 2 cooperate with the cam 41 to move the contacts 46 in a substan tially vertical direction away from each otherto a spread or open position, in response to the movement of the ejector outwardly to its nor-' mal extended position.

In response to the inward movement of theejector 39, the cam member 41 will disengage contact springs 46 to move towards each other" into engagement with the terminals 21, which" are subsequently sequentially electrically connected through the contacts 46 to the various Intermediate their.

- .extesting circuits. The inward fm'ovement' I oli e-the ezi'ectorw39 also,.=furthericompresses the compres- -s'ion: ispringrzl m soethat, :uponedisengagement of 'ithe': latchti50f from the; article; '2 9 the ej ector' .39

xis moved outwardlyzawith a' :sudden or snap ac-e teach apairiof ssuperposedi sets of contacts 46 are rzelectricallywconnected":tog'ether by conductors 24 leand 'sby conductors 21! 5 they 1 are connected to rbrushes 21 6 i mounted: ;in a cylindrical 'brush holder 2 l.'!,=-:which,-; iIitllIIlyiSy-SBCUFGd to -the -robrushesi 21 B a-re arranged in-= four levels and :the tzbrushes; f :'-the z difiereh'tiflevelsrare: connected I to r the; diffierent ones ofathe four terminals of each set ofespringicontactsv-dSi. The brushes? zifi as "-i'zthey rotate"with? the turret =35; are-adapted torz f t-engage? a plurality of stationary-' commutator -*segments 219 extending outwardly from thepe- 'riphery of 1 a plurality of-wannular commutator tassupporting discs 22 n'w m ounted r on": asleeve '22 I eb'fixd to ;the stationary shaft 15. Conductors fipfln -"connect:"the-E commutatorsegments 21 9 to various rte'st circuits .-'-'0f" the testing equipment 124; indicated diagrammatically" in Fig. :as be- --:ing located in the upper: portion of the machine.

zrA plurality ofn'riic'roswitches'226 =(F'igs5 l -a-nd e2) connected" intoaz'the' various "test circuits of the testing equipment 224; are-actuated by a'plufrralit of 'circulancams iza-mounted for rotation r with a "cam' shaft 230x170 connect; in cooperation with the brushes and-commutator segmentsythe h war-ious testingcircuits to the articles and apply theeaforementioned- *testsratheretow for -predeter- -mined-periods.-of time. Ihe- -c'am:shaft 230 is nijournalled in a housing 23l mountedwonthe-sta- :tionary-shaft-15 and keyed' to' a worm 232' which mes-hes "With a worm: germ-.233 keyed i toa shaft 234. n The shaft-2 36 isjournal-led' in' the housing 23 l -"andcarriesat :itsother end a-"bevelledgear 235 which meshes with a'bevelled drive gear "236 i secured to the-endof-.the rotatable sleeve -14.

@As- -theyarercarried along'Joy-"the rotatable table 3 5; theartic-Iesd 9 pass through a plurality z-of te'sting stations: or =zon'es a'nd' are connected successively andfor: predeterminedperiods of time to the'various testing: apparatus and sub- #fiected -to the various electrical'tests to -deterzmine whether the-*values: of 'certain electrical l'zharacteristics of the articles fall Within orout- Mside of-(an acceptablelran'ge. :As disclosed herein, the: --apparatus 1. applies -sixelectrical teststo the j -articles and, as -showmin-Fig; 1, -sixchutes 54 are shown for-receiving=the-articlesejected at the 'rdiff erent stations. :The' angular distance or-arcs wbetween the ejecting chutes 54 indicate; generrally; the extent ofthe last five test stations, the efi'rst- -test' station extending apredetermined di'sta-nce fromv-the first chute-toward the pusher w-mechaniSm -AB.

B Ddiihg thei-i'nitiah portion of each 'breakdow ictest ateach of therfirst three test stationswthe' a articles is P connected-"through :one' commutator 'Wsegment topne 'portiomof a test circuitand is subjected to a predetermined voltage for aprede- "stermined: length of "time; aft'er which it is connected' to 1 another" commutator segment toan- -'a;nd: fifth test-stations respectively, the article is connected through commutator-segments --to :the respective-network resistance and capaciytance test circuitswhich are set-to pass or'accept thearticle ifthe value of theelectrical characteristic being tested falls within the predetermined range.

i Articlessubmitted to insulation resistance-test P atu-thelast 1 test station are first subjected-to electrical conditioningby being connected-to several sequential groups. of cornmutatoraseg- -ments, some of which" apply different voltages to the article before: it reaches the insulation resistance test segment. Thee-insulation: resistance test, segment connectsthe article to a circuit which-is set to passmoraccept the article if the '-.value--:.of =t-he characteristicsxbeing tested..-falls within the predetermined range.

, In each test station, at a pointwhere-the articlev nears the-endof its movement therein, there islocated oneof-thecams52 and a.solenoid '56, which.-is.electrically-. connected into the testing .circuit' associated withthe vstation. If the value I of vthe electrical characteristic of the article being tested." falls within. the. setminimum-maximum rangebf'the test equipment applying the test,

- -the solenoid 56 isenergizedto withdraw the cam 52 and'render it-inoperative and ,thelatchjll holderfis notactuatedat this, point to release .the article. w If the Value, of thecharacteristic ofthe article being ,tested falls. below the minimum or above the maximum range of .the setting of the testing apparatus testing the article, the solenoid 56 remains. deenergized and thevcam 52 remains in its normal operative position and engages the vcam follower lltgtouactuate the latch and v disengage it from the, article, thus releasing the article and .causingits ejection from theholder 38. In radial alignment with the movable, cam

- members..52: and. the-solenoid 56,.iin each test ,v-station nthe open-lends of receiving tubes or lar boxes or. drawers slidablysupported on guide chutes 54v are positioned to receive the ejected articles .and guide them into. receptacles 238.

The receptacles 2.38 are, in the form of rectangumembers ,and vremovable from ,the machine Ithroughopenings' in the walls thereof.v The rejected or imperfect articles ,29 are thus sorted into. groups according, to their defects and the good or acceptable articles are carried by the rotatable table '35 .to theunloading station 60,

where, as-previously. mentioned, the'stationary cam [62 actu'ates'. the latches 5U"to release the articlesjfZQ, which. are thereby ejected onto-the continuously rotating turn table 64. Theturn table 641s mountedion a shaft 240 of an'electric motor" 24!, .which is. supported by a pairqof brackets242', fixedto the underneath side of the unloading table 38. The ejected articles "are, caririedvhyrfjthe turn table into engagernent with a yerticaLW'all Z44' extendingr upwardly from the unloading table 65 ,anda from one. edge of the .loadingwtable 38.. and forming a partition or, barriertherebetween to. preventthe articles from being moved accidentally from. the loading table are formedflin theiupper partof a forwardly, pro- 1 jectingnconsole. portion-.245 of the machineiFlgs.

1 and 2).

: Ihe .loading ahdnnloading features. of .con-

struction and the fixture construction of this apparatus are not claimed herein and form the v subject matter of separate applications of S. V.

Smith, Serial Nos. 45,386 and 45,387, being filed concurrently herewith. The latter application has since issued as Patent No. 2,488,609.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall Within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article testing apparatus, a base, a

stationary vertical shaft mounted on said base, a turret rotatably supported on said shaft and having a plurality of article holders for receiving articles therein, means for continuously rotating said turret to move the articles carried thereby through a plurality of testing stations, supporting means mounted for rotation with and for vertical movement relative to said turret, fixtures mounted on said supporting means in radial alignment with said article holders, an upper group of electrical contacts on each of said fixtures engageable with terminals on one type of said articles, a lower group of electrical contacts on each of said fixtures in vertical alignment with said upper group of contacts and engageable' with terminals of another type of said articles, an annular thrust member mounted for vertical movement on said stationary shaft for rotatably supporting said supporting means, means including a nonrotatable nut mounted coaxially with said shaft for vertical movement relative thereto for supporting said annular thrust member, a threaded sleeve mounted for rotation and a ainst axial movement on said shaft and threadedly engaging said nut, means for rotating said sleeve to effect the vertical adjustment of said fixtures relative to said holders to alternately align the upper and the lower groups of contacts with said holders, a plurality of testing circuits associated with said testing stations.

means sequentially connecting said electrical contacts and the articles engaging said contacts to said testing circuits, means for eiecting an article at each testing station, and means under control of said testing circuits for rendering inoperative said means for ejecting said articles.

2. An apparatus for testing condensers comprising a rotary table having a plurality of holders for supporting said condensers in an are,

means mounting said table for rotation about a vertical axis, means for continuously rotating said table to move the condensers carried thereby through a plurality of testing stations, a first connector means for each holder radially aligned with the holder and comprising contacts engageable with the terminals on said condensers arranged in one pattern, a second connector means for each holder radially aligned with the holder and comprising contacts engageable with the terminals on said condensers arranged in another circuits associated with said testing stations, means for sequentially electrically connecting said connector means to said testing circuits, and means under control of said testing circuits for causing the ejection of said condensers at said stations.

3. An apparatus for testing condensers comprising a rotary 'table having a cylindrical portion and a plurality of holders for supporting said condensers in an arc, means including a vertical shaft concentric with said cylindrical portion for supporting said table for rotation, drive means including a belt entrained around said cylindrical portion for continuously rotating said table and moving the condensers carried thereby through a plurality of testing stations, a supporting member, means mounting said supporting member for rotation with and for vertical movement relative to said rotary table, fixtures secured to said supporting member in an arc and in radial alignment with said holders, a first connector means and second connector means mounted in spaced vertical alignment relative to each other in each other on said fixtures, said first connector means comprising contacts engageable with terminals on said condensers arranged in one pattern and said second connector means comprising contacts engageable with terminals on said condensers arranged in another pattern, testing circuits associated with said testing stations, means for successively connecting said connector means to said testing circuits, means for ejecting said articles at each testing station, and means under control of said testing circuits for rendering inoperative said means for ejecting said articles.

4. An apparatus for testing condensers comprising a base, a stationary shaft vertically disposed on said base, a sleeve mounted for rotation on said shaft, a rotatable table secured to said sleeve and having a cylindrical portion coaxial with said sleeve, a plurality of holders mounted on said rotatable table for receiving said condensers, drive means including a belt entrained around said cylindrical portion for continuously rotating said table and said sleeve, an annular supporting member mounted on said table for rotation therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto, fixtures mounted on said supporting member in radial alignment with said holders, two groups of electrical contacts mounted on each of said fixtures in spaced vertical relation to each other and adapted to engage terminals on condensers supported in said holders, means for vertically adjusting said supporting member to alternately move said groups of contacts into inoperative position in alignment with said holders to engage terminals on condensers supported therein, a plurality of testing circuits, a plurality of commutator segments electrically connected to said testing circuits, a stationary support fixed to said shaft for supporting said commutator segments, a plurality of brushes electrically connected to said groups of electrical contacts, a brush holder mounted on said sleeve for rotation with said table and adapted to move said brushes into and out of engagement with said commutator segments to sequentially connect said electrical contacts and the articles associated therewith to the testing circuits, and means for ejecting an article from said rotatable table when said article fails to pass an electrical test applied to it.

5. In a condenser testing apparatus, a base, a shaft mounted on said base, a carrier rotatably supported on said shaft and having a cylindrical wall concentric with said shaft, a plurality of holders mounted at one level on said carrier for receiving the condensers to be tested, drive means including a drive pulley and a belt entrained about said pulley and said cylindrical wall for continuously rotating said carrier, upper connector means for each of said holders disposed horizontally on one level and comprising contacts engageable with the terminals of one type of said condensers, lower connector means for each of said holders disposed at another level and in vertical aligmnent with said upper connector means, said lower connector means comprising contacts engageable with terminals of another type of said condensers, supporting means mounting said upper connector means and said lower connector means for rotary movement with said turret and for vertical movement relative to said turret, adjustable means operable to vertically adjust said supporting means for alternately moving said upper connector means and said lower connector means into an operative position in horizontal alignment with condensers positioned in said holders for engaging terminals on said condensers, a plurality of commutator segments, means mounting said commutator segments in a predetermined fixed cylindrical arrangement about said shaft, a plurality of brushes mounted for rotation with said turret and sequentially engageable with said commutator segments, flexible conductors electrically connecting said brushes to said upper and said lower contacts, and testing circuits connected to said commutator segments.

6. In an apparatus for testing condensers the combination of a rotary table having a plurality of holders arranged in a circle for supporting said condensers, means mounting said table for rota- 14 tion about a substantially vertical axis, drive means for continuously rotating said table to move the condensers carried thereby through a plurality of testing stations, a first connector means for each holder comprising contacts engageable with terminals on condensers arranged in one pattern, a second connector means for each holder comprising contacts engageable with terminals on condensers arranged in another pattern, supporting means for supporting said first connector means and said second connector means in a circle in spaced vertical relation to each other and in radial alignment with said holders and for rotary movement with said table and for vertical movement relative thereto, means for vertically adjusting said supporting means to selectively move said first connector means or said second connector means into an operative position in alignment with the holders for engaging the contacts on the condensers carried thereby, testing circuits associated with said testing stations, and means for sequentially electrically connecting said connector means to said testing circuits.

SCOTT V. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 681,476 Flautt Aug. 27, 1901 1,808,301 Ferguson June 2, 1931 2,016,455 Purdy Oct. 8, 1935 2,270,613 Young Jan. 20, 1942 2,431,519 Stoate Nov. 25, 1947 

